Discussion Leader Chapter Three

Daeun Lee and Sejin Paik



Answer Key:
What do the two girls and Jordan discuss that leads us to believe Gatsby leads a shady existence?

The two girls and Jordan discuss about Gatsby, where one girl says that somebody told her that Gatsby killed a man once. Another girl, Lucille, argues that he was a German spy during the war. Jordan says that Gatsby once told her that he went to Oxford, but she doesn’t believe it.

Jordan and Nick encounter a man in Gatsby’s library. What do this man’s comments imply about people’s ideas about Gatsby?

The man at the library is surprised that his books are absolutely real. He claims that he “thought they’d be a nice durable cardboard.” This comment implies that people, including Owl Eyes, are suspicious of Gatsby. People seem to believe that Gatsby is a mysterious man, whose life is full of secrets that even his books may not be books.

Describe Nick’s first meeting with Gatsby?

Nick meets Gatsby for the first time while he and Jordan are at the garden. They are sitting at a table with a handsome man about Nick’s age. The man notices that Nick was in the Thrid Division during the war, but Nick does not recognize him. The man claims that he is Gatsby, which surprises Nick.

What does Nick think of Gatsby when he first meets him?

Nick thinks that Gatsby is very formal and elegant. He is also very surprised because he had expected that Gatsby would be a florid and corpulent person in his middle years. His smile is more than understanding and he gives a strong impression that he picks his words with care.

Describe the events and atmosphere of the party.

The party is full of numerous people that are elegant well-dressed. There is a live orchestra playing jazz music. The air is “alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” There are also people dancing in circles and doing “stunts” all over the garden.

Compare the setting of the party in chapter three to the setting of the party in chapter two.

Gatsby’s party is much more open and many people at Gatsby’s party don’t even know the host. On the other hand, Tom and Myrtle’s party was private and located in an apartment. The party in chatper three, which is Gatsby’s party, is much more sophisticated because the people speak and talk in a much more graceful way than the guests do at the party in chater two. Also, the guests are at the party until two after midnight while those in chapter two are either asleep or gone by midnight. In addition, those at the party in chapter three drink champagne while those at the one in chapter two drink whiskey.

What is the significance of the differences between the two parties?

The party at Gatsby’s house is very large, so large that some people don’t even know Mr. Gatsby. It is more public and open for anyone. it is luxurious, his house is extremely big with swimming pools and buffet tents, beautiful gardens, and a live orchestra playing under the stars.

As Nick is leaving the party, what do Gatsby and him make plans to do?

Gatsby tells Nick that they are going up to the hydroplane the next morning at nine o’clock.

What does Nick learn about Jordan Baker after he has spent some time with her?

Nick finds out that Jordan Baker is a dishonest person and that she even played unfairly in the golf tournament she was in.

What does Nick believe his one cardinal virtue to be?

He is one of the few honest people he knows.

How does Nick characterize the guests at Gatsby’s party?

He characterizes the people at Gatsby’s party to be very rich and spoiled in some sense. They just come and go when they want even without knowing Gatsby.

What does Nick’s characterization tell us about how Nick feels about most of these people?

Nick feels that he has a good moral and that he is better off than anyone else. It seems like he is looking down and analyzing the people around him. He also has a sense of superiority.

What sense of life in the Jazz Age do we get from the description of the party?

The parties have swing dances, orchestras that play jazz songs, people are having a great time.


Our Activity:
1. PLEASE write your full name before you start
2. You will only have 2 minutes so keep track of time (the time will show in the quiz)
3. The Person with the least amount of questions wrong will come in as first place and so on and so forth
4. Good Luck!!!